Stability aside, the Canucks are losing a year on their "window". The organization is losing a year of revenue. The Sedins could be 33 by the time next year starts. They could lose Edler for nothing, and no Ballard is not a replacement for their #1 defenceman.

I can't see how this year is anything but a negative.

Same can be said for any team in "win now" mode: Detroit, Boston, Chicago, etc..

can't dwell on the negative. What has happened, has happened. Though the team lost a year of the window they had, they gain a bit more of a lead over a lot of teams for the 2013-14 season (as does Boston).

If teams are not able to negotiate with any player, including their own, until July 1, 2013, the Canucks are about the strongest western team with core players already signed for the 2013-14 and beyond. Other teams with the extra year to develop their prospects will rapidly gain ground but only after those prospects have 2 or 3 years to get used to each other and the level of play needed in the NHL. It doesn't take much to sign 23 players, but it takes time to get them to play as a team.

The Canucks would start the 2013-14 season with almost all their core players as well as a couple of their core prospects, already signed now.

*Gaunce, Corrado, Mallet, Lack & Cannata are all signed but would stay in AHL for now.

That is a pretty solid core to start the season with. Especially seeing bottom six forwards & 3rd pairing D's are much easier & cheaper to find than top six and top 4.

The only core Canuck players that would turn UFA are Edler and Higgins.
The only core Canuck prospects that would turn RFA & be open to an offer sheet would be Tanev and Schroeder. There are a lot of players becoming RFA's and also open to offer sheets that are far more skilled then Tanev and Schroeder that the Canucks could go after. The Canucks still have all their picks for the 2014-15 season.

Above average players (all teams) that turn UFA and who the Canucks could try to sign are:

When a cup contending team with bucks and not needing to add much has the parent team not able to negotiate with their own player any sooner than the Canucks, this gives the Canucks a huge advantage to target specific players they want. This is a vast difference to a team like Toronto who have the bucks also, but need to acquire far more quality players than a team like the Canucks. The Leafs might sign two or three players and still be short where as the Canucks already have a full core team and are only improving on that or filling in non core roster spots. Imagine getting one or two of Iginla, Perry, Getzlaf, Penner, Gagne or Lupul without having to give up any assets.